Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal of the assigned ratings for hypertension and traumatic arthritis of the left ankle remains pending, and a new examination is required to determine current disability levels.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension and granted it, finding new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, concluding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's service or a service-connected disability did not cause or contribute substantially to his death due to cardiopulmonary arrest resulting from multiple conditions, including heart disease and Alzheimer's dementia.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VCAA notification and additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and service personnel records, including those related to a motor vehicle accident during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic renal disease and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or Gulf War exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and gastrointestinal conditions, including residuals of Crohn's disease and a hiatal hernia, as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including insomnia, a right shoulder disability, hypertension, and low back and left shoulder disabilities. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or show in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

The veteran withdrew his appeal on several issues, including service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, emphysema, hypertension, and residuals of a right thigh injury. The case is dismissed as it relates to these issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, as well as his claim for right shoulder residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, reopened the right ankle disorder and hypertension claims based on new evidence, and assigned a rating of 10% for PID.

The veteran's representative has asserted that his heart disorder is related to his service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for the veteran to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his current heart disorder, including hypertension, is proximately due to or the result of his PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder of the neck and denied service connection for a skin disorder of the feet, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus with an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of left knee injury, residuals of surgery to remove a cyst (claimed as back surgery), and left leg pain. The decision is final due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for elevated cholesterol readings and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and secondary service connection for depression, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, chronic respiratory disorder (emphysema), and diabetes mellitus. The veteran's emphysema is presumed to have been incurred as a result of herbicide exposure during active service in the Gulf War.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current psychiatric disorder and his active service, thus denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The hypertension claim is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not a disease listed under presumptive provisions and there is no evidence of onset within one year of separation.